Verify your passport and visa are valid for at least 6months. Follow-up with your employer and/or the research you conducted on work permit/visa requirements.

Meet with an Advisor at IPE to register for pre-departure orientation. An IPE Advisor can assist you with your pre-departure planning and help answer questions about work permits/visa compliance,  the UM’s travel abroad insurance plan with HTH Worldwide, and assist you in networking with other students going abroad.

Update your financial plan for your overseas experience. Use the budget tools and resources available on this website to plan for your time abroad, convert currency and become familiarized with overseas costs. Once the components of compensation are understood and travel cost has been estimated, it is very helpful to solidify your financial resource plan or a budget for the internship period. This will facilitate money management and reduce uncertainty. Remember, most students don't bring home much money at the end of their internship, but rather hope to break even during their experience.

Finalize your Learning Plan utilizing the goals you developed from Early Planning. A Learning Plan specifies outcomes that become part of your total undergraduate experience. After you complete an internship, exactly what would you like to say that you learned? This will help you focus on results and maximize the personal value of the internship. It will also help ensure the highest value for the internship in long-term career planning and future job interviews.  The learning plan will also be used to pre-approve overseas experience for the International Minor for Engineers. Check out a sample Learning Plan and template in our Quink Links!

Register for UM travel abroad insurance. Many health insurance policies will provide only limited coverage when abroad, if any. The UM has negotiated a comprehensive affordable plan with HTH Worldwide. It is strongly recommended that you purchase HTH Worldwide insurance for the duration of your internship. HTH Worldwide provides coverage for you not only in the country you will be based in, but includes other countries you may travel to.

US citizens and permanent residents should register their travel with the State Department: https://travelregistration.state.gov.  US Embassies may use this information to contact you in case of emergency and connect you with local resources.

Attend the Work Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation with IPE and the ECRC held in April. This orientation session will provide you with practical, safety, cross-cultural and professional resources and support for your overseas experience. Ensure that you have all of your travel documents in order: passport, visa/work permits, letter of invitation (if applicable), airline tickets, etc.

Register your international internship on the CoE International Experience Registry and with ITOC, the University's International Travel Registry.